

No. 1 6. [From The Times, June 15, 1896.] 



MONACO A WHALING STATION 



THE enclosed extract from a letter which I have just 

 received from H.S.H. the Prince of Monaco requires no comment. 

 It will be read with equal interest by lovers of science and 



rs of sport. 



Last year, whilst pursuing deep sea research in his yacht 

 "Princesse Alice" in the archipelago of the Azores, a native 

 crew killed a sperm whale which died under the bottom of 

 the- yacht, having charged it in its death agony as an enemy. 

 At the same time it rendered the remains of its last meal, 

 which proved to be morsels of gigantic cuttle-fish hitherto 

 absolutely unknown to science. They have already been 

 described in communications to the Academy of Sciences. 

 So soon as the yacht returned from the Azores the Prince 

 set about equipping her for the whale fishery and engaged 

 M: \V< <l<lerburn, a Dundee whaler, as his mate. The results 

 recorded in the letter show that the choice was a happy one 

 and that his crew of well-tried and seasoned Bretons were 

 quick to learn theii lesson. Last year's cruise added a nc\\ 

 family to natural history, in which the popular if somewhat 

 legendary sea-serpent finds a place which fits it. This season's 

 bids fair to do as much for the great family of the 

 cetaceans, which are generally supposed to be well known, but 

 <>nl\ specialists are fully aware of the extent of our ignorant. 



:n letter, dated June 7, 1896, from H.S.H. Albert Prince 

 of Monaco to Mr J. Y. Buchanan, F.R.S. 



A'e are now in Marseilles ready to leave for the cruise after a couple 

 of days. 



1 of our wh.iliiiK busmrss h.ts ^ixrn s|>lrn<li.l results as SOOQ 



as the material was complete in. I in order; in _ j hours \\ harpooned 



and secured three big cetaceans and lost a whale, l liese cases 



was very l Ie, a piece of about 20 metres s one 



of those who dive very deep and straight towards the bott 



pulle joo metres of lm m throe minutes or less, 



>uch a powerful speed that the fore pai l>oat took fire. We 



cut just when a few fathoms were left, and then our boat was full 



172 



